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The New View in Reconstruction

            The article a "New View of Reconstruction" by author Eric Foner exams and debunks the traditional bias interoperation of reconstruction prior to 1960's. The author clams in the first few paragraphs that the bias interoperation of reconstruction of Abraham Lincoln having a swift plan to reinstate southern states and Andrew Johnson being painted as a tragic hero, who only motives were to carry out Lincoln's plans of a quick reconstruction, but was foiled by the so called "evil" radical republicans, was the result of southern democrats whom favor ainit-reconstruction. The legitimacy of this version of reconstruction was solidified by scholars like Claude G. Bowers author of "A Tragic Era" whom works referred free African-Americans as "simple minded." This story became synonymous as truth among white communities across the country and staled progress for civil rights for blacks.
             One major point the author states is that the previous version of reconstruction failed to acknowledge blacks in the story of reconstruction, mostly undermining their ability to tell the story. For example John Burgess a historian viewed blacks as inferior, a view shared by many during the time. To correct the mistake of the previous version of reconstruction many people from the era black and white wrote their own experience of reconstruction. W.E.B Du Bios was one these people who wrote about reconstruction in a new light and emphasis how many of the writing about the subject refuses to see blacks as human-beings. According to the author it wasn't till the early 60's when true revisionist broke through, resulting the original beliefs about reconstruction to fall apart. The author states that Lincoln infect did not have a full plan on reconstruction and that Johnson was a racist politician who had his own plans on the mater. Also the new revision painted the legacy of the radical republicans in positive light and, even arguing that they had broad support for civil right acts of 1866.


Essays Related to The New View in Reconstruction

1. Reconstruction

... brought with it new crops and new methods of farming. The Great Plains in the West had a different type of soil; this meant the move West also created new technology. Steel production became very important in American agriculture. This fueled the American economy during a crucial reconstruction period. Another aspect of westward expansion being beneficial is clear in the religious freedoms that ... was also granted. Many southern freedmen moved west during the reconstruction period to start fresh. Up to fifteen years after they were emancipated racism had not slowed in the South. The W...

  • Word Count: 328
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Discuss this Extract in Relation to the Narration of the Nov

... because of all the "reconstruction", an ideal quote is also in the extract which shows this idea of unreliability "It's impossible to say a thing exact, you always have to leave something out- This shows that the first person self reflexive narrative has its twist of maybe not being all the truth or missing subjects out as it is only from her point of view, what happened may ... as they have what others want they are fertile and for the men forbidden excitement which they can't have. There is also evidence of the non- linear set out where it says "If I ever get out of here- Let's stop t...

  • Word Count: 881
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Promise of the New South

... Reconstruction hit the Southerners hard; Ayers argues that the political and social life in the South within the initial years following the end of Reconstruction are fluid, and that the conservative Democrats gradually came to dominate the area. Ayers demonstrates, just like the title of the book, the South holds a serious promise of success within the United States even through the struggle transitioning to a new world. Ayers captures the history of the South in the years after Reconstruction and the new turn of the ... as well. It is both a strength and weakness that Ayers restricts ...

  • Word Count: 547
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Reconstruction

Many historians have come to the conclusion that the period of Reconstruction, between 1860 and 1877 was a revolutionary time in our nation's history. However, in order to determine whether or not Reconstruction really was a revolution, it is necessary to define exactly what a successful revolution is. From a historical point of view, a revolution is a series of events that causes significant change in the lives of many people and whose effects can still ... suffrage from the Reconstruction, lawmakers of the time could not make sufficient progress in improving the economic condition of black ...

  • Word Count: 899
  • Approx Pages: 4
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5. Reconstruction era

... . Even though many were financially ruined by their dealings in the South many still entered a political struggle to clean up the Southern government. Since a Northerner writes the article, we can expect a one-sided view of an outsiders take on life in the South during reconstruction. Carpetbaggers were Northerners who ventured down South in search of economical investments into the Southern industry. The author explains that many of them were financially ruined ... understandable, it still does not make it acceptable. The author gives us a detailed account of the experience one carpetba...

  • Word Count: 2362
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. FAILURE OF RECONSTRUCTION

... fused them with the very essence of the South itself. In effect, the end of Reconstruction was conceived as soon as slavery became a part of the Southern consciousness and way of life. After the Civil War, white southerners felt threatened by the political power wielded by newly enfranchised Blacks. Radical Reconstruction only exacerbated this fear, and--according to many historians--the fear soon led to the emergence of a new form of absolute ... disenfranchised. John Hope Franklin gives a primary example of the racism associated with the conservative Democratic party in his book Recon...

  • Word Count: 1549
  • Approx Pages: 6
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7. Reconstruction

... V. Conclusion Black Progress during the Reconstruction Period The American Civil War and the Reconstruction period that took place at the end of the war and for many years afterwards resulted in many changes for both white and black Americans throughout the nation. The changes had the greatest impact on white and black southerners in the areas of society, economy, and politics. The south had to create a new labor system, adapt to the new anti-imperialist society, and ... every aspect of life. These vastly different ideas and opinions created much turbulence throughout all the branches o...

  • Word Count: 2408
  • Approx Pages: 10

8. Civil War through Reconstruction

... him, but by this time Johnson's program had been effectively scuttled. Under the terms of the Reconstruction Acts, new state constitutions were written in the South. By August 1868, six states (Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida) had been readmitted to the Union, having ratified the Fourteenth Amendment as required by the first Reconstruction Act. The four remaining unreconstructed states "Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, and Georgia "were ... Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all slaves in rebel-held areas, the North's war aims ...

  • Word Count: 1393
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. The Reconstruction Era

... election of 1920. He then retired to his hometown of Vendee. There he wrote, "In the Evening of My Thought," and "American Reconstruction," and some others. The other book I chose was "American Reconstruction" by Georges Clemenceau. I prefer this book for one reason, it is a non-American's point of view. Another reason I chose this book is because it is a primary source. This is Clemenceau 's journal writings for ... , the new president General Grant appointed black men to his administration. He practiced what he believed in the equality of all races. It was hoped General Grant would hel...

  • Word Count: 1982
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

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